macromolecule

American  

[mak-ruh-mol-uh-kyool] / ˌmæk rəˈmɒl əˌkyul /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a very large molecule, as a colloidal particle, protein, or especially a polymer, composed of hundreds or thousands of atoms.

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macromolecule British  

/ ˌmækrəʊˈmɒlɪˌkjuːl, ˌmækrəʊməˈlɛkjʊlə /

noun

1. any very large molecule, such as a protein or synthetic polymer

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macromolecule Scientific  

/ măk′rō-mŏl′ĭ-kyo̅o̅l′ /

1. A large molecule, such as a protein, consisting of many smaller molecules linked together.

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Other Word Forms

• macromolecular adjective

Etymology

Origin of macromolecule

First recorded in 1885–90; macro- + molecule

Example Sentences

Researchers can opt for small synthetic molecules or large biological macromolecules, also leading to different development paths, he said.

From Fox News

As a result, studies of sugars have lagged behind research into other macromolecules.

From Nature

“Your cells, your macromolecules, are literally made up of protein, fat, carbohydrates, nucleic acids. When you do not eat one of the three macronutrients — those three things I just mentioned — you’re starving yourselves,” Michaels continued.

From Fox News

Last year, the Curiosity rover identified two sites flush with complex organic macromolecules that resemble the goopy building blocks of oil on Earth.

From Science Magazine

The authors confirmed that these age-related changes in basal-mLV morphology correlated with reductions in the drainage of macromolecules from the CSF in the aged mice.

From Nature